William Reynolds & Sons Greenbrier County

 We have seen a few William Reynold's rifles and have always enjoyed seeing his unique patchboxes & the cheekpiece with the mirror.  Most of his rifles we viewed had his name engraved onto the patchbox lid. Some also have his name engraved into the barrel flat between the rear sight and breech, as most signed American Longrifles do. We have seen "Wm Reynolds, Wm Reynolds & Co., and on this one pictured below, we find engraved on the patchbox lid, Wm Reynolds & Sons.

                                                                             

Circa 1840

Who were the sons? We know William had a son-in-law Benjamin Franklin Brown who was a gunsmith from previous research.  While researching to find his sons, we recalled a few years back, we took some photos of an old collection of West Virginia rifles. In those photos, we found the image below. The rifle had a Reynolds-style patchbox and incised carving on the cheek side.  The picture is poor but reads F H Reynolds. There may be another letter or letters behind the name, maybe Jr.  Hopefully, someone will have a rifle signed by F H Reynolds and share better photos with us. 

                                                                          F H Reynolds

                                                                                  

                                                          1850 Monroe County Census

Francis H Reynolds was born in 1822 in North Carolina. In the 1850 census, he is listed as a gunsmith in Monroe County, Virginia, present-day WV.  On at least one genealogy site, they indicate he is the son of William, but another site suggests his father was named Francis. This could confirm the "Jr" behind his name on the rifle barrel.  In the 1870 & 1880 census, Francis is listed as a blacksmith in Putnam County. He died in 1900 at age 78.  He is buried in the Old Hurricane Baptist Church Cemetery. 

We are looking forward to more information on William Reynolds and sons.  We need more clarity on this one. Thanks, BMS & JDM

Earlier Post on William Reynolds

                                                                           FB

                                                                                    

                                                                                       

                                                                                       

2023 Peach Festival Romney WV

Several rifles built in Hampshire County circa 1835 were on display today at the Peach Festival in Romney, West Virginia.  Including rifles made by George Young, Zebulon Sheetz, James Rinehart and John W Rinehart.  

BMS & JDM

Richard Miller Patterson Marion County

 Gunmaker Richard Miller Patterson was born in July 1806 and died in 1852.  In 1828 he married Rachel Hart Fleming. Rachel was born in 1801 and died in 1845.  In the 1830 and 1840 Census, we find Richard living in Western Monongalia County, Virginia, or present-day Marion County, West Virginia. In the 1850 census, he is listed as a gunsmith in Marion County. Nine of his children are living with him, ages eight to twenty-two. One of the founding fathers of New Salem was John Patterson; possibly Richard is a descendant of this Patterson.  The following signed rifle has been attributed to Richard. We have not found who taught Richard the art of gunsmithing. However, some of the unique carving and S-stamping on the stock are very similar to some Western Pennsylvania rifles.  A clue to where or whom he learned the trade. The unique design of the patchbox and engraving on the patchbox and sideplate are of his imagination and design. The rifle has a 41.5-inch swamped rifled barrel of 36 cal., signed on top between the rear sight and breech, R. Patterson in script. 

                                       Click the picture for a larger image. 

Circa 1830

                                                                             

Richard M Patterson Estate Sale August 1852

Richard's son John and gunsmith Thomas P Lilly purchased gunsmith tools and supplies at the estate sale. 

                                                  Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fairmont

Thanks to George Fleming for the use of the headstone photo. Hope you all enjoyed viewing this rifle and info on Richard Miller Patterson, JDM & BMS

A P McDermit of Mason County

 A. P. McDermit Gunsmith, Civil War Union Soldier, Dentist & Druggist. Born in 1827, he died in 1899. McDermit was most active in making rifles from 1850-1860 in Mason County, West Virginia.  He is listed as a gunsmith in Mason County in the 1850 census & as a gunsmith in the 1860 census in Point Pleasant.

                                                                             

                                                         1860 Point Pleasant
 

The heavy octagon-to-round barrel and brass inserts near the muzzle to attach a shade indicate target shooting usage. While it could have been used as a buffalo rifle or Civil War sniper rifle, as the .54 caliber is large enough, it appears to have had very little use. Whatever this rifle was used for, it proudly represents the skill and artistic talents of one of West Virginia's finest gunmakers.

                                                       Percussion rifle circa 1860 

                                                                     39-inch barrel 

                                                                       Walnut stock

                                                                        Brass capbox    

                                     Top of barrel signed by maker & fined notched rear sight.

                                               Lock made & signed by A. P. McDermit.

                                                     Brass tabs near the muzzle for sunshade.

                                                          Beautiful brass furnishings

                                           Brass ball or accessory storage box near toe plate. 

                                                                     

                                 Poured pewter nose cap & heavy octagon to round .54 cal barrel.

                                                    Silver inlay surrounding barrel wedge.

Finely engraved silver cheekpiece inlay 

                        For more information on this interesting rifle maker, Click.

                                                Thanks for viewing, JDM & BMS

                                                                                 FB

James McNaught & Daniel Denoon

 Gunsmith James McNaught set up a gunsmith shop in Richmond, Virginia, shortly after arriving to America from England. He placed an ad in the Commercial Complier on September 21, 1816, informing the residents of Richmond of his new business & services.  The following month he placed an advertisement in the same paper wanting an apprentice.  Daniel Denoon was bound to James in 1817 to learn the art of gunsmithing; he learned quickly & became a journeyman.  Daniel served McNaught well and ran the whole shop until his death by the hand of McNaught in 1826. Read the clipping from the "March 3, 1826, Richmond Enquirer" for more details of the tragic story. 

                                                                                    

                                                Richmond Enquirer December 11, 1821

                                                                  Click To Enlarge

                                                           Alexandria Gazette 1826

                                                                                   

                                                       Richmond Enquirer April 4, 1826  

David H Lilly, A Man of Many Hats

While studying the old West Virginia gunsmiths, we find some interesting and colorful characters, David H. Lilly does not disappoint. David H Lilly was in Cumberland Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania, in 1848-49. This could be where and when he learned the art of gunsmithing. In the 1850 Palatine, Marion County, Virginia census, present-day Fairmont, West Virginia, we see him, his wife Josephine, and their six-month-old daughter Angelia. David is listed as a gunsmith. While living in Fairmont, he is a Temperance Society and Western Virginia Methodist member. The following records and newspaper articles will tell his story better than we can.

1860 Census Beverly, Randolph County: Lawyer 5 Children

1860 Elected County Attorney, Webster County

*1861 Accused Confederate Spy

1863 Accused Confederate Spy

1864 Joins the Confederate army. 

May 1865 Surrenders & pledges allegiance to the United States.

October 1865 is elected Prosecuting Attorney for Webster County. He was deemed ineligible and could not prove loyalty to the Union during the war. (1) 

1870 Census  Leadsville, Randolph County: Lawyer.

1872 Elected Prosecuting Attorney for Webster County

1877 1877-1878 Business Directory, Grafton: Attorney at Law.

1880 Census Curtis, Roane County: Minister.

1910 Census Parkersburg, Wood County: None; he is 87 years old. & Luther J. Lilly 51

The following percussion half-stock rifle circa 1850 is attributed to Lilly and is signed in script D H L on top of the barrel between the breech and rear sight. The rifle is stocked in tiger stripe maple, with brass furnishings and a 33-inch long .43 Cal. barrel. 

                                                                

                                                                         

                                                                              

 On May 24, 1860, David was elected county attorney for the newly formed Webster County. However, by September of the following year, *David finds himself confined in the guard house at Camp Carlile in Wheeling. 

                                                               Click to enlarge                                               

                                                                        

                                                                           

                             *The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer September 19, 1861 

                           The four images below are from civilian civil war records.                             

1863 Rebel spy, occupation lawyer

Signed affidavits testimony against Lilly.

This letter appears to say that even though the writer believes David is guilty, they may have a hard time proving it & he will send him and his family beyond the lines.

The writer of this letter states they have additional evidence and that they could send Mrs. Lilly and their children to relatives in Pennsylvania. They believe it would be better to send them out of West Virginia. 

On March 1, 1864, David enlisted in the Confederate army. 

Surrendered in Beverly May 1865 Occupation Lawyer

On May 15, 1865, David surrendered at Beverly, West Virginia, and the following day he was paroled. Signed his allegiance to the United States.

The Wheeling Daily Register August 19, 1872

The Weston Democrat April 27,1874

The Wheeling Daily Register August 3, 1876

The Wheeling Daily Register February 9, 1877

                                                                                    

                                              Pittsburgh Post-Gazette November 24, 1910

                                                                       

Josephine Lilly 1831-1881

Limestone Cemetery

David H. Lilly 1823-1910

Limestone Cemetery Rockport, WV

No doubt there is more to David H Lilly's story, but this will give us all a glimpse into the life of one of West Virginia's colorful characters. 

Thanks to Crystal for the headstone photos!

(1) Page 102 Moccasin Tracks and Other Imprints by Dodrill

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Robert Allen Lilly, Elkins Chief of Police Son of David & Josephine

FB

Hope you enjoyed , BMS